Thread: Motor swap

Ok I have been debating over and over on what I should do. Should I do a l32 swap or a ls4 swap? Keep in mind I have a 06 l26 car. I was considering doing a l32 swap because it is somewhat cheaper to modify but then I also want to have the v8 sound. From what I read my factory tranny off the l26 will bolt up to the ls4 (Would then need to find a location for the starter). I honestly dont really like the manushift anyway on the gxps. So say I went with the ls4 swap. Would the wiring be the same as on the car? Would I just have to switch engine harnesses?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

There's a lot of questions there..

Wiring.. you would need to look closely at schematics to see if a simple harness swap would work.
L26 trans.. no you can't use it. You'd need all the guts to be put into a different case for the starter to work. Plus the guts aren't V8 guts..therefore you'd likely tear them apart rather quickly since it sounds like you are doing it for power.

Thanks man!! Just say the l26 tranny worked (just picture it). I take the ls4 bolt it up to the l26 tranny. I then take the wire harness and hook it up to the motor then to the pcm then to the fuse box. Shouldnt it work? Or do I need to have the TCM too? And yes I am doing this for power but also to get the v8 sound. Thanks again

Let's say you can't bolt up a starter. Sure the trans bolts up.. what good is this w/o being able to start it? Keep in mind, I'm not trying to piss in your cornflakes, merely remind you that you'll either have to swap the bell housing etc if it's possible and still..you won't have the beefier V8 parts.

Next.. you are going to want to follow my advice about sitting down with an FSM before you plug in at the fusebox. You need to know if the LS4 pinouts are the same. What if you plug that puppy in and grounds are going where 5V+ is supposed to be or better yet.. a 12v+ where a ground should be? Do your homework on your project or expect potential costly life lessions about doing homework.

Ever see ghostbusters when the DEP is going to shut down the grid and Bill Murray says "My friend, don't be an ahole" He's getting at ...knowing what is going to happen.

There's a 02 impala using the whole drive train out of a ls4 I'll see if I can find the link. It'd be beneficial to use a complete dropout engine trans and wiring harness. Preferably from a impala or Monte Carlo because the Gxp uses tap shift which is more of a pain to deal with wiring wise I assume.

Bill I totally understand where you are coming from. When I was doing a little research I found that there was a couple starter relocation kits made. The kit placed the starter underneath an oil pan. (Trying to find one....kinda hard). But at the moment I could care less about my tranny because it wont be lasting much longer. And parkave I did not know that. I thought all ls4s came with the tap shift. So with that being said are the wiring harnesses different from tapshift setup to the non tapshift. Or do they still both require a tcm?

Thanks a lot guys!!

I have a motor needs a few parts but low miled... very cheap